we love Germany

[@maxwilli3718]

An American KZbinr living in Germany said, "I'm so thankful I wasn't born here in Germany because I wouldn't realize how beautiful it is." So we don't appreciate what we have.

[@irishpilgrims]

haha - that's often the way!

[@johnmookerji7770]

In some German museums they will ask you to wear special slippers so that you do not scratch the floor while walking-- my experience.

[@irishpilgrims]

that is new to us. thanks John

[@christiankastorf4836]

@@irishpilgrims That is historic buildings with old wooden floorings. Those felt-slippers that look so ridiculously oversized because you get into them with your shoes on are nicknamed "Schlosspantoffeln"- stately house slippers"

[@derGraf-ys3xc]

Sehr sympathisch, Ihr zwei, feines Video

[@irishpilgrims]

vielen Dank 🙌

[@berndkahlau9770]

Greeting from a German-Irish couple living in the Niederrhein area near the Dutch border. You've earned our sub. Stay safe - Sláinte

[@irishpilgrims]

Thanks Bernd. Much appreciated. Sláinte ☘️

[@CavHDeu]

Niederrhein rulez 😎 but we're slipper-free. Haven't seen them in a long time and i'm german.

[@valentinaosipova7371]

very cool, such interesting and personal perspective, was interesting to watch:)

[@irishpilgrims]

cheers Valentina 🙌

[@usbxg3474]

Nice, informative video, presented by a likeable couple? Thumbs up!

[@irishpilgrims]

cheers!

[@joeriddle3565]

Man, I miss all of these things... especially the doner!

[@broncolausen7660]

Nice video and very sympythatic, thanks for the irish view. ;-)

[@ostwestexpress2709]

It's one of wrongest legend that visitors in germany have to change her shoes into slippers.

[@kraftandre5538]

cooles Video.Ihr seid ja ein tolles Paar.Wo und wie lange lebt ihr schon in Deutschland? Eine Kur ist von denen, die sie nicht brauchen verpönt.Da ich aber schon 2 hatte,schätze ich sie sehr.Eiskratzen und Schnee schippen mag keine Sau.Denke Schweinehaxe is a pork knuckle.Döner is super, aber was ist mit Schweinebraten, Rouladen,Spätzle,Frikadellen,Mett? OMG,ich krieg Hunger.Alles Gute,bleibt gesund.

[@irishpilgrims]

🤣 geht mir inzwischen auch so. Habe Hunger jetzt!

[@bloederhennes1302]

HiHo, ich denk mal das die Sache mit den Hausschuhen daher rührt, das nun mal gerade in Städten ohne Kanalisation, bestimmte Gegenstände einfach aus dem Fenster entsorgt wurden. Somit an Schuhen zu finden war. Auch sollte man in dem Zusammenhang nicht vergessen das es ja auch eine Zeit lang gang und gäbe war das Vieh in Parterre (engl. First Floor) zu halten damit im Winter die Körperwärme das Haus mit beheizte. Da das Vieh ja auch versorgt / umsorgt werden musste, waren hier natürlich auch diverse "Verunreinigungen" am Schuhwerk gegeben ;) Da denk ich mal das Muttern ganz nett gekaifft hat wenn Männe wieder mal für gut riechende Fußstapfen in der Wohnung gesorgt hat . Achso :) Willkommen in Deutschland.

[@irishpilgrims]

Danke Hennes. Heutzutage hat es wahrscheinlich mehr damit zu tun, Kratzer im Laminat zu verhindern 😉

[@alky_antifairy3423]

Oh the sparkling water part reminded me of the Peckham Spring episode on "only fools and horses". Maybe you should sell bottled Brühl spring water 🤣🤣🤣

[@irishpilgrims]

I loved that episode. Actually any episode of 'Fools and Horses'!

[@JohnJames-kw5de]

Lovely video. You both have great twinkles in your eyes

[@irishpilgrims]

cheers John. So kind of you.

[@barnygoose6318]

I‘m German and I've never worn slippers when visiting friends or acquaintances

[@irishpilgrims]

Yes Barny, I am learning that it seems to be a regional thing. I love it inzwischen :-)

[@sunrae3971]

Only best friends get slippers 🤣. Honestly my Parents have a whole Army of slippers for guests and friends.

[@irishpilgrims]

@@sunrae3971 brilliant🙌

[@31337flamer]

do your parents wear slippers at home?

[@irishpilgrims]

@@31337flamer yes, come to think of it. The older generation back home wear slippers too 🤔

[@butwhyWHYnot]

Seeing you both makes me feel I wanna be like this with my husband when I grow older ❤️ Such a nice comfortable vibe between you two 🙂 Never cutting each other while talking .. looking at each other while talking 😘😘

[@irishpilgrims]

That's very kind of you, Shruti. Thanks from both of us 😘

[@megansloan4796]

nice Video!! :)

[@berndheghmanns1437]

Ah cool, Ich mag die Iren, ob nun vom Norden oder die eigenständigen :) Ich hab mal ein ABO dagelassen, mal schaun was da noch kommt LOL

[@irishpilgrims]

Good man Bernd! Danke fürs Abonnieren 🙌

[@1Treelover]

Hello you two, just watch "german food safari" german cuisine" to learn about the pork knuckle. Greetings from Austria!

[@irishpilgrims]

cheers!

[@juergenurbas6395]

Wie nett. Danke für Euern nicht leichten - aber wertvollen Dienst - welchen Ihr hier leistet . Zur Verbreitung der frohen Botschaft. 🙏

[@irishpilgrims]

Danke Juergen 😇

[@Kivas_Fajo]

There are Winterdienst services in place everywhere...they will also do your Kehrwoche. Just pay a few bucks and never see a broom and snow shovel again...^^

[@janheinbokel3969]

A very warm Welcome to you Two Guiness-Records from the Green Island (EIRE)

[@irishpilgrims]

cheers Jan🙌

[@TessaractAlemania-hd7tv]

"Kur" (treatment) is a lovely oldfashioned word, and we citizens like it more than the official word for it, "Reha" (bilitation). Nice to hear that all from irish people, the first time, thank you, never expected it!

[@johnmookerji7770]

Germans like to drink spakling water (Sprudelwasser). You will see them buying by the dozen at a grocery store. A famous brand is Gerolsteiner Spudelwasser. In many towns in Germany shops are also closed for nearly two hours during lunch time, you can say, like Siesta (Mahlzeit); but even on Sundays, shops are open at a nearby railway station (Hauptbahnhof).

[@muddy1337]

great video, btw scheinshaxe would directly translate to something like a pigs leg 🍗

[@stefanhaler3318]

And the germans don't know how good they've got it. We call it "Jammern auf hohem Niveau"!

[@grafholt1]

I‘m a native german and believe me: i never, never met someone who loved „Eiskratzen“. So there‘s no need to integrate ;-) And…. welcome ! 🙂

[@irishpilgrims]

😂🙌

[@NKKBerlin]

I'm from the south western part of Germany and the "slipper thing" is typical for East Germany. When I visited the GDR for the first time in early 1990, it was one of the main culture shocks for me! I knew guest towels (Gästehandtücher), but guest slippers (Gästepantoffeln)???

[@irishpilgrims]

Siehste! ;-) Thank you for confirming that we are not making this stuff up 😂 Cheers🙌

[@gerhardadler3418]

Iam from the southwest aswell, and i know it exactly as they said it.

[@irishpilgrims]

@@gerhardadler3418 cheers Gerhard

[@seorsamaclately4294]

As a Saarländer I can confirm that.

[@chaddabob3958]

About the sparkling water ... correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you can order tap water and it usually is free of charge. Allthough you need to order something from the menu, but there I'm not sure about it. My boss used to order a cappuccino and a glass of tap water though. xD Remember, you need to specifficly ask for tap water.

[@irishpilgrims]

Yes Bob, that is correct. It is possible, but not a given ;-)

[@justanothername5199]

Now im curious to know the story about the sodastream....

[@irishpilgrims]

😂 nothing to tell😉

[@justanothername5199]

@@irishpilgrims riiiight, okay, we'll leave it at that then. :)

[@irishpilgrims]

@@justanothername5199 😅danke

[@frankderessener4477]

Very interesting. In the eastern part of Germany we have the continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. In western parts of the country it is more the maritime climate as it is in England due to the gulf stream. SUB done. Please more. Stay healthy.😉

[@irishpilgrims]

Cheers Frank. Much appreciated. 🙌

[@kp8740]

Pork hocks is the word you were looking for. Lecker!

[@irishpilgrims]

cheers KP🙌

[@akl9354]

How likeable! 😜 Glad you like it in Germany! Eiskratzen is a pain (I live in Allgäu 🥶) and Schneeschippen can be, but try to consider it a Winter Workout.💪😜

[@irishpilgrims]

Cheers A Kl. You are exactly right. That's the attitude I need🙌

[@gerdpapenburg7050]

Schweinshaxe = roasted pork knuckle Love it - have you tried "Rinderrouladen" (stuffed beef roll) or "Schäufele" (roasted pork shoulder)?

[@irishpilgrims]

Thanks Gerd. Yes Rinderrouladen is lecker :-) Have never tried Schäufele. It's now on the list :)

[@heha6984]

@@irishpilgrims Hi yee both :) If you consider trying Schäufele, you should also consider trying it at a restaurant in the countryside of Mittelfranken (= Middle Franconia). It is served along with home-made Klöße (dumplings - no, no, not a person, made by potatoes haha!). Guten Appetit - or as we say: An Goudn! :)

[@irishpilgrims]

@@heha6984 thanks for the tip! All this talk of food is making me hungry lol

[@MarsOhr]

@@irishpilgrims Bitte im Süden nicht das Wort "lecker" verwenden. Ja, ich weiß, es wird immer häufiger. Aber es sollte nicht.

[@irishpilgrims]

@@MarsOhr gut zu wissen. was sagt man dann, statt lecker?

[@christiang6960]

Like you, I love our SodaStream! I don't know how many hundreds of liters of sparkling water we've made with that thing.

[@irishpilgrims]

And no lugging crates of water around too! Nice.

[@broetchenahoi6524]

Rehabilitation aka "Reha" is what you get after a major operation (i.e. hip replacement) to make sure the healing process progresses as necessary and in the best possible way. A "Kur" is usually a 4-6 week stay for medical and/or preventative reasons. If you have major asthma or lung problems then you might be sent to a Kur place at the North Sea because of the (healthy) sea air. Mutter-Kind-Kuren are for (single) mothers and smaller children to give moms a break and a chance to sleep and recuperate (and perhaps to get emotional or physical therapy) and to bond and have some fun with the child without the stresses of daily life. You have to apply for a Kur and they are not automatically approved. German health care is not free, btw: if you're employed, about 14% of your pay check is automatically deducted for health care. Worth every cent, though, I reckon.

[@irishpilgrims]

Thanks for this excellent explanation. It really shows how good the German health system is - even if it costs 14% of your pay. Worth every cent indeed!👍

[@kathi_LG]

❤

[@susigorges7035]

Lived in Malaysia for years…….from Germany….we take shoes off….at all times….nice custom

[@TessaractAlemania-hd7tv]

Haha, irish that love Schnitzel and Schweinehaxe, lol. Both from the swine. But with Döner Kebap, you have made the Turks here a compliment. It's "Turned Meat from Cattle". Doesn't Irish eat so much pigflesh? Is there not so much variety? I must look for an video about irish food ;) But you said nothing about the unique variety of sorts of bread here, for what germany is famous for!

[@stefanhaler3318]

Kur is the wrong word, it's a rehab. We call it "Reha" for rehabilitation.

[@Mike8827]

Kur is for prevention of illness . Reha is for recuperation after an illness .

[@suserockle7332]

I'm german but this slipper thing I don't understand. I don't walk around in streetshoes in my flat too. But forcing guest to take off their shoes when they come for dinner is strange. I wouldn't do it and i thought I'm a typical German.

[@irishpilgrims]

Hi Suse. It is not that the host 'forces' anyone to take off their shoes. It is just a done thing. There have been times when I ask 'Should I take my shoes off' and the host lets me decide how I want. But in general - here in eastern Germany - it has been our experience that it is just a custom to take your shoes off before entering someone's flat.

[@ad220588]

Kalte Füße 😉

[@stevehamar8570]

Love the Irish accent

[@irishpilgrims]

cheers Steve😍

[@ianalmuete4811]

We Love Germany!

Actually, Germans do wear their shoes inside the house. I grew up that way, I still do it. All my schoolmates were the same. So it's a generational thing more than something to do with "socioeconomic status" (my friends were mostly a lot better off than my family, although none of the parents were academics and we lived in a more rural area and not in the city, so that might have changed things even in the 70s).

[@irishpilgrims]

yes, it appears it's a regional thing - it's a custom in and around Chemnitz / Erzgebirge

[@minimax9452]

Döner Kebab as fast food was invented in Berlin, but it is inspired from the turkish

[@irishpilgrims]

thanks Minimax

[@alky_antifairy3423]

After spending 12 years in Ireland and the UK, I appreciate the German health system so much more. I know of waiting times for a specialist of nearly a year in the UK. It is funny that us Germans then moan having to wait a few weeks to see a specialist. Also quite funny is the mail service. My family always nearly had a heart attack when they saw the prices I paid to send something from Ireland compared to what they paid to ship something of the same weight from Germany to Ireland (although maybe that has changed considering I left there in 2008).

[@irishpilgrims]

And to think that Irish journey started with a month's internship in Chemnitz ;-)

[@alky_antifairy3423]

@@irishpilgrims very true. It's a little scary.

[@BJHolloway1]

The post rates have changed after Brexit for sure and not in a good way Germany to the UK

[@irishpilgrims]

@@BJHolloway1 yep Brian. Our experience too.

[@habicht6]

danke....... ihr seid cool.... wir brauchen mehr coole Leute... hier in DSCHÖRMENYYYYY

[@irishpilgrims]

sehr lieb. DANKE!

[@ranalidana332]

Hi! 🙂 Thanks for this video 👍👌 I always wanted to know what's opinion of English native speakers about the German very famous pop duo that sing in English. 🤔 And that's "Modern Talking" This band is very famous in almost all around the world but the English speaker countries! 😔 I really wonder why shouldn't this band be popular in the English speaker countries?!!! 🤔 Unfortunately this band is being forgotten! 😔 Please familarize your people with this band. Please do a survey about the band if they're good or not. Thank you.

[@josefinenagy4136]

I have to agree with Germans not knowing how good their health system is. It is probably the best in the whole world!

[@irishpilgrims]

certainly gotta appreciate it👍

[@MarsOhr]

It has been deteriorating for 30 years, and that was done purposely, so some can make a profit. That is so sad. Majority never asked for that, and wasn't asked.

[@klauskruger6187]

OK. Slippers, but leaving the shoes in the hallway? Wer macht denn sowas?

[@irishpilgrims]

Fast alle Sachsen, scheinbar. Zumindest, das ist unsere Erfahrung. Ich finde es gut.

[@klauskruger6187]

@@irishpilgrims Sachsen, ach so. Da überrascht es mich natürlich nicht. Bestimmt habt ihr jetzt auch diesen lustigen Akzent?!

[@klauskruger6187]

@@irishpilgrims Entschuldigung, ich mach nur ein bischen Spaß. :-)

[@irishpilgrims]

@@klauskruger6187 alles gut, Klaus. Ein bisschen Spaß muss sein. Wir Nordiren haben auch einen Akzent in Englisch. Vielleicht sprechen wir deutsch bald auf einem der nächsten Videos - dann kannst du uns sagen, ob wir einen deutschen Akzent haben :-) Also, watch this space. VG

[@klauskruger6187]

@@irishpilgrims Nein, ich meine natürlich den sächsischen Dialekt über den wir uns alle immer kaputtlachen.

[@bobabier5394]

1:23 no. that's not true. do you confuse germany and japan? :D

[@irishpilgrims]

😂🙌

[@peter_meyer]

I miss the original irish Guinness. The one i had here (in Germany) was awfull. I will surely go back to Baile Átha Cliath just to have a good Guinness.

[@irishpilgrims]

Couldn't agree more. Guinness always tastes better on the island.

[@seorsamaclately4294]

You have to get it from tap or in the can, not in a bottle.

[@irishpilgrims]

@@seorsamaclately4294 it's even better from a tap in Irleland😉 Thanks Seórsa - that name sounds Irish?

[@seorsamaclately4294]

@@irishpilgrims basically Scottish, I just took the Gaelic version of my German first name, and MacLately is a "virtual" Clan of friends from all over Europe, who love all things Scottish and especially the kilt.

[@irishpilgrims]

@@seorsamaclately4294 Brilliant. The Irish Saiorse means liberty.

[@gerdbucher543]

porknuckle with dumplings abd kraut

[@Helmut_aus_N]

Kebab is turkish, but Döner Kebab is invented in Germany as far as I know. Thank for your nice videos

[@irishpilgrims]

Thanks Helmut. Cheers!

[@burak827]

Kebab and döner kebab are completely Turkish. Döner word comes from dönmek (v) . It means turn. But unfortunately in Germany there is no good doner, you should taste it in Turkey.

[@Dr_Klops]

Schweinehaxe = pork knuckles?

[@irishpilgrims]

cheers Achim

[@MarsOhr]

Richtig. Nebenbei: Haxe ist ein süddeutsches Wort.

[@carstenschiemann5808]

Döner Kebab German food because it comes from Berlin

[@irishpilgrims]

We live and learn :) Thanks Carsten🙌

[@Fischbroetchen2k]

You know you are in the bad part of town in germany, if people don´t have their shoes infront of the flat door in a apartment building.

[@irishpilgrims]

haha👍

[@kiliipower355]

Eisbein!

[@irishpilgrims]

yes!

[@helfgott1]

Dear Folks I am in a smartass mode today so here are some informations for you: The sparkling water was invented by the English theologian, chemist and physicist Joseph Priestley. In 1772 he succeeded in producing soda water for the first time by introducing sulfuric acid into a calcareous solution and dissolving the resulting carbon dioxide in a beaker of water. My Grandfather was born 1896 and in his generation sparkling water was a luxuary, for wealthy folks only. So during the times everyone wanted this luxuary.Thats one of the reasons why sparkling water is so popular, does that make sence to you? Ask a german and u will get a loooong answer The health system is Germany's largest, most difficult and probably also the oldest patient. In 1883, Chancellor Otto von Bismarck introduced statutory health insurance. So today health insurence is mandatory for everyone. Its quite complicated how it works, but beeing a normal man i am covered,great right? AND i do agree most germans take it for granted. On the other hand education and healthcare ARE HUMAN RIGHTS it is not meant to be something to earn money Thanks for your patience reading through all of this I like both of you

[@irishpilgrims]

Thanks so much David for taking time to write. Even when you are in smartass mode 😂 Fascinating background to these themes. And you are right - basic healthcare and education are things that we should not take for granted. Blessings to you.

[@alky_antifairy3423]

So here is a question, how do you explain to others that you are going to a rehabilitation center in Germany without people thinking they sent to into "rehab" 😂😂😂😂

[@irishpilgrims]

I know. I'm hoping 'recuperating' helps folk get the drift of what am trying to say....badly😂

[@arnodobler1096]

go to a rehab is also no problem!

[@arnodobler1096]

sooooooooooooooo nice 😍 🍖 i´m German

[@irishpilgrims]

Cheers Arno. Watch out for the food I miss from Ireland too ;-)

[@BigFetladral]

Als ich weis natürlich nicht ob das für alle gilt aber ich persönlich weis unser Gesundheitssystem durchaus zu schätzen. Gerade im Vergleich zu den USA bin ich absolut Glücklich das ich mir um die gesundheitlichen Kosten keine Sorgen machen muss. In den USA wäre ich bereits Tot da ich mir dort die Krebsbehandlung nie hätte leisten können. Aber gerade darum sehe ich auch gern die Meinungen von Einwanderern und Gästen um zu sehen wie gut es uns doch Teilweise geht und was die Unterschiede zu anderen Ländern sind. Es macht auch neugierig und man informiert sich dann auch mal über die entsprechenden Länder und sowas kann nur vom Vorteil sein. Aber das Video muss fake sein ... es kam garnicht ...wir lieben deutsches Brot und die Kippfenster vor ;) just kidding. Ich wünsche allen eine schöne Zeit und bleibt Gesund.

[@irishpilgrims]

stimmt! Die Kippfenster😳. Kommt in der nächsten Folge... just kidding ;-) Im Ernst, schöne Einstellung hast du! Bleib gesund🙏🏻

[@peterbohren3637]

You obviously don’t live in Berlin

[@burak827]

Probably the habit of wearing slippers at home comes from Turkish people. Germans saw it and like it.

[@honkforpeace007]

Hosts acting politely would never ask their guests to get shoes off. But indeed I know some households where this is strictly expected .

[@gigi2091]

so true, its impolite to ask guests to get shoes off and its weird even though I also do not like someone coming into my house with street shoes. But it might me more commen in the eastern part in Germany than in the western part of Germany

[@nitka711]

I would say it is the other way around. It is impolite not to take your shoes of and bring your dirt indide

[@BJHolloway1]

Not true I was in Munich yesterday visiting somebody for the first time and the shoes had to come off.

[@val-schaeffer1117]

Every time a Nordic Caucasian makes a video without effusive praise on how great Germany is, it proves the existence of rabid racism in every level of German society.

[@rashomon351]

Really, slippers ? I'm 56 years old and never in my life have I been to anybody who requested me to wear slippers. Nor do I request my guests to wear slipper. And if you'd bring your slippers to my house, I'd be quite offended. Do you think my house is dirty ? Once or twice in my life I came across someone who wanted me to take off my shoes in their home. They always seemed quite odd to me. But OK, they got what they deserved ;) Maybe I'm not as german as I think. Or maybe, germany is not that uniform as always depicted in those videos ? Germany as a nation is quite young (and I'm not talking about the german re-unification. In fact, as a nation, it was founded only in 1871). Before that, there were lots of germanic tribes and kingdoms with different cultures and dialects who only seem to remember some common sort of ancestry when there were outside threats. For that, maybe that's why germany is more diverse than mostly perceíved. There are sixteen germans states today, and that doens't begin to cover it's diversity...

[@irishpilgrims]

Thanks for commenting Thomas! See some of the comments below - apparently the slippers is an east German thing. So, as you say, Germany is diverse. Gut so ;)

[@MaXMustermann-fw2vo]

If there was a gold, silver or bronze medal for complaining, then Germans would always be on the podium. At least at European championships. ;-)

[@irishpilgrims]

😂

[@RealMash]

And then complain they only got one medal..yeah, I am German...

[@MarsOhr]

Aber alles mit sich machen lassen.

[@RealMash]

@@MarsOhr Bei der Revolution bloß nicht den Rasen betreten...

[@val-schaeffer1117]

You love Germany because you are Nordic Caucasian.